The decor of the Bayside Café is simple. At least two dozen
navy-blue booths bookend pinkish-mauve tables, separated in some
areas by decorative glass partitions featuring underwater scenes.
An abundance of live plants decorate the room. It's an understated
and comfortable space.
A basket of dark bread was brought for us to munch on as we
pondered the lunch menu. We eventually settled on an order of
barbecued pork ribs, a tuna melt and halibut and chips.
Service was a bit slow, but I think that was because we
appeared to be a table of three women who weren't in a rush. Other
tables around us turned over quickly.
My pork ribs were served alongside a small plate holding a
moist linen napkin and wedge of lemon — a nice touch to keep the
inevitable mess to a minimum. An arch of six sizeable pork ribs
were brushed with tangy barbecue sauce and placed atop a bed of
crisp french fries. The ribs were a bit fatty, but prepared
nicely, and the sauce, though not distinctive, was savory and
tart. A small portion of just-right coleslaw also shared the
plate.
One friend ordered the halibut and french fries. Since the
waitress warned that the pieces of halibut were on the small side,
my friend went with the three-piece option. The firm white chunks
of halibut were fried crispy golden brown, served with a mild,
nearly solid-mayonnaise sauce. Malt vinegar would have been a
welcome addition, as well as a lemon wedge for added flavor. The
accompanying fries were again cooked nicely, heaped alongside a
ramekin of the aforementioned flavorful coleslaw.
My other lunch date's turkey melt was passable, but on the
disappointing side. The only bread option appeared to be white,
and thick slices of white turkey meat rested between the nicely
toasted but heavily buttered pieces. She felt the yellow cheese — melted unevenly over only one side of the sandwich
— was a bit
unidentifiable.
Rather than french fries, she chose a cup of clam chowder to
accompany her sandwich. In her words, it was edible, but nothing
spectacular. The chowder had one thing in its favor: a cornucopia
of clams.
Intermittently throughout our meal, a stream of cigarette smoke
would billow toward us from a pass-through between the dining room
and the bar. Mind you, we were seated in the nonsmoking section of
the restaurant (we actually hadn't been asked for a preference,
and were seated near the raised smoking area in the middle of the
dining room). I don't like cigarette smoke in a restaurant. Of
course, it's an establishment's right to allow it; I just prefer
to be forewarned or to have it be more segregated.
I feared I was being overly fussy, so I polled a few friends
who had been to the Bayside Café. When asked about their memories
of eating there, many mentioned the cigarette smell first. I felt
somewhat vindicated in my annoyance.
Rumor has it Bayside Café serves a fine breakfast, from
omelets and eggs benedict to waffles and oatmeal.
Dinner options run the gamut from steak and ribs to chicken,
chowder and pasta.